Oolong Tea: What it Is, Nutrients, and 6 Incredible Health Benefits
You’ve likely known about the health benefits of different teas – green tea, chamomile tea, ginger tea. But did you know that a tea that makes up just 2% of the tea produced and consumed worldwide offers incredible health benefits that rival those of other teas (1)?
It’s true. Studies show that oolong tea may help with weight loss, reduce stress, help prevent heart disease, defend against cancer, and more.
Throughout this article, you will learn all there is to know about oolong tea and its health benefits.
What is Oolong Tea?
There have been numerous health benefits associated with tea for millennia, and oolong tea falls into this category. Weight loss is one of the most frequently cited oolong tea benefits, and it is supported by scientific research.
Similar to green and black tea, oolong is made from Camellia sinensis leaves. However, unlike green tea, which is unfermented, and black tea, which is fully fermented, oolong tea is partially oxidized to meet somewhere between the two.
Oolong tea is a popular beverage in China and Taiwan. Asian countries are renowned for their love of tea, and tea consumption is integral to their culture and social life. It is common for friends and business associates to meet over tea.
Originally from a province in China, oolong tea is gaining popularity in the Western world today due to its health benefits.
Oolong Tea Nutrients
Like black and green teas, oolong tea contains many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can benefit the body.
8th Wonder Sparkling Oolong Tea, like oolong tea in general, contains small amounts of calcium, magnesium, and potassium in its brewed form. In addition, it has approximately 38 milligrams of caffeine. In contrast, a cup of green tea contains around 29mg of caffeine (2, 3).
Tea polyphenols such as theaflavins, thearubigins, and EGCG are some of the most critical antioxidants in oolong tea. Many of its health benefits can be attributed to these compounds (4).
Additionally, oolong tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that facilitates relaxation and cognitive function (5).
Health Benefits of Oolong Tea
There has been a substantial increase in recent years in the amount of research conducted into the medical effects of teas, mostly black and green teas. But there has been an increasing amount of research on the health benefits of Oolong Tea in recent years, and what researchers have discovered so far is astonishing.
Fun fact: 8th Wonder created its Organic Sparkling Oolong Tea after researching the incredible health benefits of this tea.
Below are the most common and impressive science-backed health benefits of Oolong Tea.
May Help With Weight Loss
There has long been a link between tea consumption and weight loss; indeed, numerous studies have demonstrated that bioactive compounds found in tea can aid in weight loss or reduce the risk of obesity (6).
Despite the long-held belief that tea's capability to decrease body fat solely resides in its antioxidant activity, researchers are beginning to suggest that tea's ability to inhibit enzymes and its interactions with gut microbiota, in particular, may contribute to its weight loss properties (7).
Oddly enough, this is related to oolong tea. An animal study recently showed that oolong extracts positively affected fat oxidation, meaning they directly broke down and reduced body fat.
Interestingly, a small study conducted many years ago indicates that oolong tea can increase human energy expenditure, which refers to the number of calories the body burns while resting. But this is not the same as fat oxidation. So it appears that the fat oxidation benefits of oolong tea don’t extend to humans. But this was just a small study. There is a need for additional research before conclusions can be drawn (8, 9).
However, there is scientific evidence that oolong tea consumption suppresses the production of new fat cells (10) and increases the body's rate of burning fat. As a result, there is little doubt that oolong tea not only helps you lose weight quickly but also protects against obesity on a long-term basis by reducing fat and inflammation that contribute to stubborn weight gain (11, 12, 13).
May Lower Cancer Risk
Due to its high antioxidant content, oolong tea significantly reduces your risk for certain cancers, including ovarian and pancreatic cancers (although pancreatic cancer risk is disproportionately higher among the elderly and Chinese populations) (14, 15).
It appears that oolong tea also inhibits the growth of melanoma (16).
According to the National Cancer Institute, tea has such incredible anticancer properties that the institute even began sharing information about tea as a cancer-fighting beverage with cancer patients (17).
So…8th Wonder Sparkling Oolong Tea is not only refreshing, relaxing, and delicious; it may also help protect you from cancer!
May Boost Brain Function
Studies have shown that tea consumption is associated with enhanced brain function and memory, as well as possibly protecting the brain against the effects of aging (18, 19).
Several components of tea may contribute to the health of the brain.
For example, caffeine can increase the release of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. Both brain messengers are believed to benefit mood, attention, and cognitive function (20).
In addition, researchers have found that theanine, an amino acid found in tea, may also increase attention and relieve anxiety. The results of a 2014 study indicate that tea containing both caffeine and theanine improved alertness and concentration within 1 to 2 hours of drinking it (21, 22).
It is difficult to find specific studies that examine oolong tea specifically. Still, one study from 2008 found that chronic tea consumption was associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment and cognitive decline. Indeed, the study indicated a powerfully positive mental effect on those who drank black or oolong tea regularly (23).
One smaller study published in 2010 found that regular consumption of green, black, and oolong tea was associated with improved cognitive function in older Chinese adults. Specifically, the subjects demonstrated enhanced memory and information processing speed. (24).
May Help Prevent Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a common condition caused by high blood glucose levels and insulin resistance. It affects an estimated 26 million people in America and 382 worldwide (25).
This condition is diet-related and is, therefore, reversible in most cases. Yet, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes continues to climb. Indeed, over 90 million U.S. adults are believed to have prediabetes (26).
Type 2 diabetes comes with various dangerous and deadly complications, such as heart disease, stroke, neuropathy, blindness, and limb amputation.
Given the health risks of this disease, researchers have been searching for a way to reverse it. One of the best ways to reverse diabetes naturally is by adding 8th Wonder Sparking Oolong Tea to your diet. This tea may be helpful in the prevention of diabetes, as well as in the development of future diabetes medications (27).
A study has shown that drinking oolong tea every day for at least a month significantly lowered blood glucose levels in diabetic patients compared to those who drank only water. In addition, both groups followed the same diet plan (28).
To be fair, tea consumption, in general, has long been linked to a reduction in diabetes risk. For example, one study found that increasing tea consumption by 2 cups daily resulted in a 4.6% reduction in type 2 diabetes risk (29).
May Support and Improve Heart Health
It has also been observed that regular consumption of tea antioxidants may improve heart health (30).
Several studies show regular tea drinkers have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and are less likely to get heart disease (31, 32, 33).
A study conducted in 2003 concluded that those who drank more than six cups of tea daily had a "significantly" reduced risk of coronary heart disease compared to those who didn't (34).
There have also been several studies conducted on oolong tea.
One study of over 76,000 Japanese adults found that men who consumed 8 ounces (240 mL) or more of oolong tea per day had a 61% lower risk of developing heart disease (35).
Further, a study done in China found that adults who drank 1 to 2 cups of green or oolong tea per day "significantly" reduced their stroke risk (36).
May Support Dental Health
To help prevent dental cavities, fluoride is often added to drinking water, toothpaste, and mouthwash.
Oolong tea may help prevent cavities since it contains fluoride naturally in its leaves. Fluoride in excess can be harmful; however, it is safe for adults to consume less than one liter of oolong tea daily (36a).
Potential Side Effects
Oolong tea is a safe drink for most people, as it rarely causes allergic reactions. There are some cautions, though.
For example, although most research supports the reduction of diabetes risk with regular consumption of oolong tea, a few studies indicate that the opposite is true (37). Therefore, patients with diabetes should be under the care of a physician consistently to monitor any changes in their condition.
Also, caffeine consumption can cause frequent headaches in some people (38). In addition, overconsumption of caffeine can cause also cause insomnia, anxiety, irregular heartbeats, and in some instances, high blood pressure (38a, 38b).
Further, consuming too many polyphenol antioxidants can cause them to act as pro-oxidants, which are harmful to your health. The consumption of polyphenol supplements may lead to excess intake, but tea alone is unlikely to cause this (38c).
Finally, tea may reduce the body's absorption of iron. For most people, this would not make a difference. However, it is recommended that you severely limit your consumption of oolong tea if you suffer from an iron deficiency to prevent future problems (39).
Summary
- All types of tea are produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. However, different processing methods produce different types of tea.
- Tea has several biologically active chemicals, including flavonoids, caffeine, fluoride, and theanine.
- While oolong tea is not as well known as green or black tea, it is believed to have similar health benefits. Among these are benefits for the heart and the brain.
- Oolong tea can also reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes, protect you from certain types of cancer, and support weight loss efforts.
- Additionally, this beverage contains less caffeine per cup than coffee, making it a suitable alternative for caffeine-sensitive individuals.
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References
1- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213453015000555
2- https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/1104264/nutrients
3- https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171917/nutrients
4- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213453015000555
5- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26192072/
6- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6099746/
7- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6099746/
8- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5852763/
9- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11694607/
10- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10094584/
11- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19271168/
12- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25031332/
13- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25098399/
14- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23107758/
15- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24858717/
16- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17690471/
17- https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/tea-fact-sheet#q6
18- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28899506/
19- https://www.aging-us.com/article/102023/text
20- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7132598/
21- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24946991/
22- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24946991/
23- https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/88/1/224/4648937
24- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20617284/
25- https://www.nih.gov/research-training/accelerating-medicines-partnership-amp/type-2-diabetes
26- https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics-report/prevalence-of-prediabetes.html
27- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21812644/
28- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12766099/
29- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24331002/
30- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.118.008814
31- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.118.008814
32- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5529974/
33- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6567086/
34- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12473426/
35- https://jech.bmj.com/content/65/3/230
36- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STROKEAHA.109.548586
36a- https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/food-beverages/tea
37- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21244473/
38- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15596744/
38a- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33050315/
38c- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23615074/
38b- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5445139/